Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - dictate

v. & n. --v. 1 tr. say or read aloud (words to be written down or recorded). 2 a tr. prescribe or lay down authoritatively (terms, things to be done). b intr. lay down the law; give orders. --n. (usu. in pl.) an authoritative instruction (dictates of conscience). Etymology: L dictare dictat- frequent. of dicere dict- say DICTATION n. 1 a the saying of words to be written down or recorded. b an instance of this, esp. as a school exercise. c the material that is dictated. 2 a authoritative prescription. b an instance of this. c a command. Phrases and idioms dictation speed a slow rate of speech suitable for dictation.